JACKSON HOLE, WY.- Jackson Hole Fine Art Fair closed its first edition on Sunday, September 15, 2019, with strong sales and high attendance. Over the four-day event, JHFAF reports about 2,000 visitors with $2 million in sales. JHFAF brought out some of Jackson Hole’s most prominent locals, as well as new visitors, all excited to see the museum-quality fair presented within Jackson Hole’s thriving arts community.
The fair presented 50 exhibitors who brought works that they felt matched the personal aesthetics of the Jackson Hole community. Works ranged in genre and price from world-renowned artists like Maynard Dixon, Ed Mell, Billy Schenck, Eanger Irving Couse, Thomas Hart Benton, Andy Warhol, Alexander Calder, Ed Ruscha and Sam Francis.
Fair Director Rick Friedman said, “Because JHFAF was the first international fine art fair in town, I think both collectors and exhibitors did not know what to expect. I’m so happy to report that all attendees I spoke to said it was far beyond their expectations. We heard the repeated comments, ‘loved it, fantastic, and terrific’ by fairgoers as they left the fair. We produced a multi-genre fair, with works within the Contemporary, Modern, Native American and Wildlife genres, with many of the early to mid 20th century pieces finding new homes. I see this as a breakthrough event that presented world-class and museum quality offerings across all of our showcased genres and I think the sales prove that. It was the wealthiest collectors as a percentage of the attendance of any of my fairs ever, over 10 years. ”
Exhibitors reported strong sales with Redfern Gallery, Nieto Fine Art, Mark Sublette Medicine Man Gallery, Montana Trails and Mongerson Gallery reporting mostly sold out booths.
Throughout the weekend, guests were treated to special programs and events including artist Q&A’s with Barbara Van Cleve, Donald Martiny, Larry Pirnie and Sarah Winkler. During the fair, JHFAF also produced a silent auction, which raised money for its institutional partner, The National Museum of Wildlife Art.
JHFAF presented several awards throughout the weekend including the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award to the late John Nieto and the 2019 Art Collectors of the Year Award to Anne Phillip, the 2019 Sculptor of the Year award to Bart Walter and the Contemporary Artist of the Year award to Paul Villinski.
